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Buildings in the UK often have problems with poor insulation. Although British homes are typically designed with insulation in mind, older homes, in particular, can be draughty and lack energy efficiency. There are many methods that can be used to improve thermal insulation in a property, but improving the insulation around doors and windows is one of the best options. These are the places when many draughts can be found and where older materials and construction methods can cause poor insulation.
Some people might opt to replace windows completely, but there is another option that can help you to achieve your goal. Secondary glazing provides an alternative that boosts thermal insulation and offers multiple other benefits too, including noise reduction.
Thermal Insulation from Secondary Glazing
Thermal insulation from secondary glazing isn’t from the glass itself, but from the space between the panes of glass. Air is trapped between the different layers, which slows down the thermal transfer. Secondary glazing can be applied to single-glazed windows, but we often install our secondary glazing systems on double-glazed windows too. It can be particularly useful for listed buildings or properties in conservation areas, where installing new double-glazed windows may not be allowed or could make things difficult.
Efficient secondary glazing could make the thermal performance of a window 60% more efficient. By improving thermal insulation, you can reduce the amount of energy required to heat your home. With energy prices on the rise, you could combat the increased cost of living by fitting secondary glazing. Installing secondary glazing can also help buildings to meet Part L of the building regulations, which concerns the conservation of fuel and power.
Single panes of glass are not very good insulators. They have a U-value of around 5.0W/m2, but adding secondary glazing to a single-glazed window will bring the U-value down to about 2.7W/m2 on average (the lower the better for thermal insulation). Depending on the product and the installation methods, even more, efficient windows can be achieved with secondary glazing.
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Secondary Glazing vs. the Alternatives
Secondary glazing is just one of the options that you have if you want to improve the thermal insulation in your home. So how does it measure up against other options? In addition to the level of thermal insulation, it will give you, there are several other factors that you will want to consider. These include the cost and the ease of installation, as well as whether it’s the appropriate choice for your property.
There are both DIY solutions and professionally fitted options if you want to improve your home’s insulation. Many of the DIY options may help a little and they are often inexpensive, but they are unlikely to provide the benefits that professional insulating will provide. You might also consider replacing your windows if you want to update them and make them double-glazed or even triple-glazed. However, this can be a more expensive and time-consuming option.
Of course, there are other ways to improve the thermal insulation and energy efficiency in your home or business. Methods such as insulating the loft or roof space can have benefits and help you to save energy and money. These can be carried out in conjunction with secondary glazing.
Benefits of Secondary Glazing
Secondary glazing offers a number of great benefits when you choose it for your property. Better insulation means that you don’t need to use as much energy, which is better for the environment and helps you to save money over time. Secondary glazing can be cost-effective too, helping you to save money compared to brand new windows. So you’ll get a return on your investment sooner as the cost of secondary glazing is more easily covered by your energy savings.
Secondary glazing is an appropriate choice for many different types of buildings too. It can be a useful option for heritage buildings and conservation areas, where keeping the original windows or window style is important. Secondary glazing can be fitted into the existing windows so they don’t need to be replaced. But it’s also a good choice for newer properties that may need an extra boost for thermal insulation.
Secondary glazing is one of the best ways to improve thermal insulation for your home or business. It can save you money while creating a warmer property and reducing other problems such as condensation for a more comfortable property. It also comes with multiple other benefits, including providing better sound insulation to reduce noise. Contact us to find out more about how we can help.